Surface Water Management Utility Business Plan

Surface Water Management (SWM) is developing a business plan to improve the services we provide while keeping costs down. This Utility Business Plan will:

Identify which of our services to maintain, expand, or reduce

Ensure that SWM services meet all state and federal legal requirements

Provide utility rate recommendations to sustainably fund services

We Want to Hear From You

​​We began work in August 2017 on the Utility Business Plan and are now in the stage where we want to hear from you, our ratepayers. Attend an open house in February 2018 to weigh in on how your utility charges are spent (times and locations to the right).

Why We Need a Plan

As a stormwater utility, SWM provides a variety of services for ratepayers to keep people safe and to keep our rivers, lakes, streams, and Puget Sound healthy. This includes direct services, such as drainage complaint response, inspection and maintenance of drainage facilities, and technical advice for property owners. We also provide programs to meet state and federal mandates, such as water quality monitoring and salmon recovery planning.

The demand for SWM services has increased over the years, as has the cost of providing those services. However, SWM utility rates have remained unchanged since 2009, resulting in an imbalance between service costs and expected revenues. The purpose of the Utility Business Plan is to determine the appropriate mix of services and to develop funding options for future years.

We have already made changes to our business practices to improve organizational efficiency and save costs. Two recent examples are a new system to more easily and accurately manage drainage system inspections and maintenance, and the consolidation of three utility districts into a single utility district.

Involving the Community in the Plan

SWM’s mission statement begins with "Work in partnership with the community.” The engagement and participation of those affected by our Utility Business Plan are essential in developing an effective Utility Business Plan. This includes:

Public Open Houses: Join us for one of the upcoming open houses in February 2018.

Stakeholder outreach: SWM has received input from over 40 stakeholder constituencies, including other municipalities, agencies, tribes, business groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other county departments or divisions.

Ratepayer Survey: A survey is being conducted in January-February 2018. All property owners who pay SWM utility charges have been invited to participate.

Advisory Panel: A 16-member ad hoc advisory panel, composed of individuals representing various interests across Snohomish County, is providing input and recommendations for the Utility Business Plan to SWM and the Snohomish County Executive. The Advisory Panel is meeting nine times from September 2017 through January 2018.

County Council briefings: SWM has provided the Snohomish County Council with regular briefings on the Utility Business Plan. Videos of these Council meetings and all meeting materials can be viewed online: